Gunners opt for strong squad

Arsene Wenger is again likely to select a strong squad for tomorrow night’s Carling Cup fourth round trip to Newcastle.

Nicklas Bendtner and Theo Walcott are both fit following injury and could feature after coming off the bench in the 3-0 Barclays Premier League win over 10-man Manchester City, while youngsters Jay Emmanuel-Thomas, Kieran Gibbs, Henri Lansbury – who scored in the last round at White Hart Lane – and goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny will probably be included again.

Centre-half Laurent Koscielny has recovered from a back problem, but Thomas Vermaelen (Achilles), Robin van Persie (ankle), Manuel Almunia (elbow) and Aaron Ramsey (leg) are still sidelined, while England midfielder Jack Wilshere continues to serve a three-match ban.

Provisional Squad: Szczesny, Gibbs, Djourou, Koscielny, Eboue, Rosicky, Denilson, Diaby, Lansbury, Bendtner, Walcott, Fabianski, Clichy, Squillaci, Arshavin, Song, Fabregas, Nasri, Chamakh, Emmanuel-Thomas, Eastmond.